VISAKHAPATNAM: Anticipating huge crowd for the International City Parade and the Operational Demo scheduled on February 7 as part of the International Fleet Review 2016 (IFR-16), the authorities have arranged 25 holding areas near the Beach Road venue to accommodate an additional 1.84 lakh people. However, they will have to satisfy themselves by witnessing the proceedings on the LED screens in these holding areas.
The district administration has made arrangements for distribution of 1.4 lakh passes through Mee Seva centres, out of which 90,000 had already been issued. Another set of 40,000 passes are also being issued from Mee Seva centres from Sunday.
These passholders will get to witness the International City Parade and the Operational Demo ‘live’ by standing in the enclosures arranged on the Beach Road.
“We have arranged 75 blocks over a stretch of 4.5 km along the Beach Road where about 50,000 people can stand and watch while, the rest will have to stand all along the programme. As all the passholders might not be able to witness the entire event, we have also set up 53 LED screenings along the stretch,” HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao told mediapersons here Sunday. All the 75 blocks will be divided in equal number will flank the main dais accommodating the Prime Minister. Every block will be manned by an official from revenue, police and GVMC departments to assist the public and attend to any problems.
District collector N Yuvaraj stated that about 60 toilets, 16 ambulances, 19 sanitation teams and other basic amenties had been arranged at the venue. When pointed out that the Intermediate practical examinations will be held from February 4, the collector stated that instructions will be given to the police/navy personnel on the field to allow students attending the exams on all routes. Further, the authorities have declared holiday on February 4 for all schools in GVMC limits to enable them witness the final day rehearsals. They are also contemplating to declare a holiday for colleges as well.
City police commissioner Amit Garg urged the passholders attending the International City Parade to carry their identity proof without fail and produce it when asked by the police personnel. He said that access control teams have been deputed to verify the identity at three levels and guide public. While the entries from the Naval Coastal Battery area and the Park Hotel area will be open for public, special entry arrangements have been made for VIP checking points. All six approach roads along the Beach road will be used as dedicated exits to vacate public after the event.
“We have made parking arrangements at the APIIC grounds for Navy and the government authorities besides Yoga Village exclusively for the government officials. Streetside parking will be allowed for general public in East Point Colony and Andhra university South campus for those using from Park Hotel entry, while those entering from Naval Coastal Battery side can park their vehicles at Andhra Medical College, AMCOSA road and Zilla Parishad area,” the CP added. RTC buses will be plied along the roads closest to the main venue entry points.
Expected VVIPs, VIPs
VVIPs and VIPs expected to attend the International Fleet Review in Vizag, besides President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence minister Manohar Parikkar, Governor ESL Narasimhan, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, are: